..a good day for mosaics!

You have to mark really good days, don't you?! - and this is one for Just Mosaics!  So, why not share it with my blogging companions?

Firstly, I have delivered my latest commission to my Cornish client.  She really was over the moon with it - a view of Loe Beach Cafe, Feock, Nr. Truro, Cornwall.  I so enjoyed making it - three layers, three different thicknesses to give it a real 3D feel, and different widths of tiles to add to the effect.  It took a bit of working out, like all good things, rather like a jigsaw puzzle, but Im chuffed with the result, even more so, now she is!  There is always a fair amount artist's angst at the handover!

A mosaic of Loe Beach Cafe

Secondly, I sold my driftwood surfer today, to be given as a surprise present to, you've guessed it, a fanatical surfer - hope I have got the lines right!

 Mosaic driftwood surfer

I have also supplied the actual cafe at Loe Beach with some mosaics to put up and sell over the summer - including these Alfred Wallis inspired boats. Find Loe Beach Cafe on Facebook.

Mosaic cornish boat and lighthouse

Mosaic cornish boats

Then, I heard today from UK Handmade that I have been chosen to exhibit my mosaics in their Spring showcase, which is a brilliant way of getting your work out there - on a fab and much visited site.  Im not sure which piece  they have chosen, but think it could be this one, don't you?!

Mosaic blossoming spring flowers

And.. (yes, there's more).. I have been  shortlisted for the Handmade in Britain London Exhibition in the OXO Tower in May - 30 designers/makers are chosen from around Great Britain to showcase their work, sell to the public and get seen by anybody and everybody in the design world!  I should know definitely about that one next week - will share the news on Twitter -@justmosaics  I'm really pleased even to be shortlisted, and am encouraged to see that the organisers feel mosaics could have a place in their exhibition.  Fingers crossed!


And finally, I have five more brand new followers on Twitter today - I never take that for granted, and it always gives me a buzz - so thanks for following!

Phew - it's been quite a day! They don't come along very often so I hope you don't mind me blogging my own trumpet a bit !

Felicity

Mosaic buzz words

I have been having a fun time this week making my new mosaic buzz words!

It all started when I saw this wall hanging in a catalogue before Christmas - 'joie de vivre', and kept coming back to it.  So I ordered two, one for a  friend who feels the same way as me, and one for our kitchen - and here it is!  I liked the idea of being being reminded that my cup should be half full!

That got me thinking... There are lots of other words out there that can do the same thing and that's when my head started buzzing with them all, and buzz words were born!

It's been really hard to choose a few examples  but hopefully  they give you a feel of what I'm trying to do here.

 Everyone will have their own words that mean something to them - I can't wait to mosaic them, and then know they are up somewhere doing their thing -  like an investment in life!  I'm amazed how many times I look at 'joie de vivre' and think '...oh, yes - come on ..!'

I've also had alot of fun (it doesn't take much..!) trying to match the font and the colours to the mood of the word - hug - warm, zest - bright, welcome - colourful, now - strident, and so on.. The possibilities are endless! I know it's only a small thing in the great scheme of things, but it can make a difference, and if it does, how good is that? - spread the joy and seize the day!

What's your buzz word?

Mosaic buddy benches

I want to write this blog about something very important to me - my mosaic buddy benches.

It all started just before Christmas when a lady phoned me and told me about the bullying that was going on in her daughter's school.  At first, I thought she was going to ask me to do a workshop or something - a team building thing - but then she went on to tell me about buddy benches, which I hadn't heard of before.

Buddy benches basically provide a designated area in the environment of a school, where children can go to when they are feeling fed up, and other children recognise this and can sit with them and offer friendship and kindness.  It's a symbol of respect, and a reminder of the good behaviour all schools aspire to.

So, this lady was asking me to consider making one for her child's school.  I have to say I was really taken with the buddy bench idea for lots of reasons, as anyone would be.  How effective it is depends a lot on the school and how they introduce and use it - there are guidelines to follow.  But the very fact that it is there says that this school is doing all it can to combat bullying, and this bench is just one way, out of many - to do that - a practical, real symbol of thinking about others.

I already make bespoke benches for private customers - for patios, cafes, gardens etc -  and the scope for design in schools is immense - school logos, mottos, crests, pupils' own designs, inspirational words, commemorating an event, whatever - so, it's all systems go!

Anything that helps combat bullying has to be good, hasn't it?

Felicity